Companies like to hire people who have proven themselves by overcoming challenges.

If there ever was a good job candidate, it would be Jalin Sead, who experienced the hardships of growing up at the Meadow Garden housing complex in Norwalk, but after connecting with the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, he took a new turn.

As a senior at Brien McMahon High School last year participating in a national NFTE competition, Sead developed a business plan for JCA Outreach, a mentoring program for children. After winning a classroom competition, he won at the county level and advanced to NFTE's National BizPlan Competition, where he was a semi-finalist.

In recognition, Sead was one of 23 students from 11 states and seven countries to be awarded the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award at NFTE's annual Dare to Dream gala last month at the Marriott Marquis New York City.

"It was really exciting because 2,000 or 3,000 kids competed, and I was in the top 10," said Sead, a freshman majoring in business at St. Francis College in New York City.

In his junior year in high school, he realized he needed to change his attitude, and he eventually discovered NFTE. He enrolled in Jeanie Bunce's entrepreneurship class and took advantage of the opportunity.

"I needed to behave and get my grades up if I wanted to succeed in life," said Sead, 18, who, as head of JCA, directs a cadre of 65 mentors and works with an eight-member board of directors serving 55 young people.

To prepare for the national competition, Sead was coached by Tom Jones, a former senior executive with Citibank and senior partner at TWJ Capital LLC in Stamford.

"I was very impressed by Jalin," said Jones, who helped him in his presentations. "Winning these competitions is all about giving a convincing presentation in a short period of time. Your goal is to be clear and compelling. It's remarkable to see how Jalin has grown and matured in the past six months."

The NFTE honors, and experience with his nonprofit organization, will help Sead in his job search, Jones said.

Sead is an example of how NFTE can help young people re-direct their energy benefiting themselves and society, said Joel Warren, executive director of NFTE's Fairchester Region.

"He's a pretty smart kid. His business plan defined how to get grants, and he's gotten two," Warren said. "He's an example of the kind of kid the grants would be supporting."